Other books that might interest you

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  The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two...

  Neil Gaiman

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  ""I'll swap you my dad,"" I said. ""Oh-oh,"" said my little sister.  
  What if you wanted your best friend's two goldfish so much that you'd swap anything for them, even your father? 
  What if your mother came home and found out what you'd done? 
  The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish is a hilarious adventure and was the first book for younger readers from the acclaimed author and illustrator of the New York Times best-sellers The Wolves in the Walls and Coraline. Chosen as one of Newsweek magazine's Best Children's Books of the Year, The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfish is beloved by readers of all ages. This new edition features brand-new jacket art and an afterword by the author on the origins of this unique and wonderfully funny story.

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  Against the Grain or Against Nature

  Joris-Karl Huysmans

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  "Against Nature" or "Against the Grain"—is an 1884 novel by the French writer Joris-Karl Huysmans. Let's explore this intriguing work:    Plot Summary:  The narrative revolves around a single character: Jean des Esseintes. He is an eccentric, reclusive, and ailing aesthete.  As the last scion of an aristocratic family, Des Esseintes despises nineteenth-century bourgeois society. His goal is to retreat into an ideal artistic world of his own creation.  The novel primarily consists of a catalogue of Des Esseintes's neurotic aesthetic tastes, musings on literature, painting, religion, and hyperaesthetic sensory experiences.  "À rebours" delves into themes associated with the Symbolist aesthetic, breaking away from Naturalism and becoming the epitome of "Decadent" literature. It profoundly influenced works like Oscar Wilde's ""The Picture of Dorian Gray""1.  Background:  Huysmans, the author, underwent a significant shift in his writing style. His early works were Naturalist, depicting the drudgery of working-class life in Paris.  However, he found this approach limiting and decided to apply the minutely documented realistic detail to a portrait of an exceptional individual: Jean des Esseintes.  The character of Des Esseintes is partly based on Huysmans himself, sharing similar tastes but taken to greater extremes. Huysmans transformed this "wild and gloomy fantasy" into the novel ""À rebours""12.  "Against Nature" invites readers into a world of decadence, introspection, and aesthetic obsession."

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  Why Journalism?

  Erik Fichtelius

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  In Why Journalism – Real News in an Age of Lies, Erik Fichtelius explores the media's role in defending truth in an era of misinformation. With democracy under threat worldwide, this book reveals the challenges faced by journalists as they navigate political pressures, digital disruption, and AI's impact on newsrooms.Drawing on five decades of experience, Fichtelius, one of Sweden's most respected journalists, delves into major global events, from Cold War smuggling operations to modern-day conflicts between the press and political powerhouses. He argues for impartial journalism that answers the crucial questions of who, what, where, when, why, and how – offering the facts needed to navigate today's world.A must-read for aspiring journalists and defenders of press freedom, this edition includes three new chapters on the rise of AI, the digital revolution, and the vital role of public service broadcasting in safeguarding journalistic integrity.

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  Hushed Up! A Mystery of London

  William Le Queux

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  A young man, Owen Biddulph, is drawn to a beautiful young woman with a mysterious past... a past that seems to have returned to cause her disappearance! Is she his new found love or his nemesis? And who is this mysterious clergyman that warns him to avoid this young woman, at risk of his very life! What possible harm could this sweet young woman inflict? Written by one of the Masters of Mystery, William Le Queux.

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  Vampire Hunter D: Volume 5 - The...

  Hideyuki Kikuchi, Yoshitaka Amano

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  "In a world where even the smallest and most remote village is being terrorized by the monsters that stalk the night, there is a hamlet, prosperous and peaceful, where mortals and vampires have lived in harmony for years. It is there that seventeen-year-old Sheavil Schmidt has slept, neither waking nor aging, for thirty years since first receiving the vampire's immortal kiss. The mysterious Vampire Hunter D is lured to the tranquil oasis by recurrent dreams of the beautiful, undying girl bathed in an eerie blue light and dancing in a ghostly chateau. 
   
  Performed by Scott McCormick, David Cui Cui, Jefferson A. Russell, Debi Tinsley, Ken Jackson, Tuyet Thi Pham, Jeri Marshall, Terence Aselford, Duyen Washington, Torian Brackett, Zeke Alton, James Lewis, Dawn Ursula, Brandon Burton, KenYatta Rogers, James J. Johnson and Julienne Irons."

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  The Starlight Garden

  Alexander Liashenko

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  In a realm where stars waltzed and dreams materialized, the enigmatic Starlight Garden thrived. This ethereal haven housed Lumina, the Shimmering Sprite; Bramble, the Curious Bunny; and Spark, the Playful Firefly. 
  On a radiant night, a gleaming trail streaked across the sky. Lumina, Bramble, and Spark, captivated by its allure, embarked on a journey into the heart of the garden. There, glowing flowers and murmuring trees welcomed them. 
  Further in, they encountered mischievous gnome Glimmerkin, entangled in thorns. United, they freed him using Lumina's light and Bramble's dexterity. In gratitude, Glimmerkin offered to lead them to a wish-granting waterfall. 
  Challenges abounded – moonbeam bridge, owl riddles. They reached a sparkling waterfall, its water stardust-like. Each wished: Lumina for kindness, Bramble curiosity, Spark perpetual playfulness. 
  Astoundingly, the waterfall fulfilled their wishes, infusing their essence. Spirits lifted, they danced under starlight. Glimmerkin, moved, gifted a star-shaped key, unlocking the garden's doors. 
  With hearts full and spirits alight, they returned home, having learned that magic resides in kindness, curiosity, and playfulness. Their tale inspired treasures to embrace inner enchantment and the magic around.

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